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Is Shin Ramyun Halal?

Short answer Varies by country

The regular Shin Ramyun sold in the US is not halal certified, and its soup base contains beef bone extract, beef extract and beef fat [4]. Nongshim makes a separate halal version with no beef stock, certified by the Korea Muslim Federation and JAKIM [3], for markets such as the Gulf [2]. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

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Halal status by country

CountryStatusDetailsSource
United States Not certified Nongshim USA's Shin Ramyun Original lists beef bone extract, beef extract and beef fat, and makes no halal claim. [4]
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE Halal Nongshim began making halal-certified Shin Ramyun at special facilities in its Busan plant in 2011 for these markets. [2][5]
Malaysia Halal The halal version of Shin Ramyun received JAKIM certification in 2013, after a Korea Muslim Federation certificate in 2011. Buy packs that show the halal logo. [3]

Why the regular Shin Ramyun is not halal

Shin Ramyun's noodles are made from wheat flour and potato starch. The issue is the soup packet and the oil. On Nongshim USA's product page, the Original version lists beef bone extract, beef extract and beef fat [4]. The page describes the soup as a beef broth and makes no halal claim [4].

Beef is a halal animal, but beef is only halal when the animal was slaughtered according to Islamic rules. A beef extract from a regular US or Korean supplier gives no such assurance, and Nongshim does not say the beef in the standard product is halal. So the standard pack you find in most US supermarkets is not certified. For the general rule on beef, see is beef halal?.

The separate halal Shin Ramyun

Nongshim does make a halal Shin Ramyun. It is a different recipe, not the same pack with a new logo. According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Nongshim replaced the beef stock with beans and wheat that mimic the original flavor [3]. That version received a halal certificate from the Korea Muslim Federation in 2011 and from Malaysia's JAKIM in 2013 [3].

Halal Focus reported that Nongshim built special halal production facilities at its Busan plant and started making halal-certified Shin Ramyun there in 2011, selling it in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE [2]. In 2024, FoodNavigator reported that Nongshim's halal-certified ramen was exported to more than 40 countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia [5]. Nongshim's global website also lists Shin Ramyun (120 g) with a halal certification mark [1].

How to tell which version you have

Because two versions exist, the pack in your hand is what matters.

  • Look for a halal logo. The halal version carries a certifier's mark. Malaysia accepts JAKIM-certified products, and the Korea Muslim Federation also certified the halal recipe [3].
  • Read the soup base ingredients. If you see beef bone extract, beef extract or beef fat, you have the standard recipe [4].
  • Check the country label. Nongshim makes noodles for the US market at its own US plants [5], and those packs list beef ingredients.
  • Shin Black and cup versions. These are separate products with their own ingredient lists. Read each one.

Recipes change, so check the current label every time, even on a brand you know.

Finding halal Shin Ramyun in the US

Halal Shin Ramyun is made mainly for Muslim-majority markets [2][5]. In the US, it may turn up at some Middle Eastern, South Asian or Korean grocery stores that import it, but it is not a regular supermarket item. If a store says it has halal Shin Ramyun, ask to see the pack and confirm the halal logo and the certifier's name.

If you can't find it, compare other noodle brands with the same checks:

In every case, look at the soup packet first. That is where meat extracts and animal fats usually appear.

Frequently asked questions

Is Shin Ramyun halal in the USA?

The standard Shin Ramyun sold in the US is not halal certified. Nongshim USA lists beef bone extract, beef extract and beef fat in the Original version [4]. A separate halal version exists, but it is made mainly for other markets [2][3].

Is there a halal version of Shin Ramyun?

Yes. Nongshim makes halal Shin Ramyun with beans and wheat in place of beef stock. It was certified by the Korea Muslim Federation in 2011 and JAKIM in 2013 [3]. Look for the halal logo on the pack.

Does Shin Ramyun contain pork?

Nongshim USA's ingredient list for Shin Ramyun Original shows beef ingredients, not pork [4]. The concern for halal is that the beef is not certified as halal-slaughtered. Always read the current label, since recipes can change.

Where is halal Shin Ramyun made?

Halal Focus reported that Nongshim built halal production facilities at its Busan plant in Korea and started making halal Shin Ramyun there in 2011, for markets including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE [2].

Sources

  1. Pizza Shin Ramyun (product details) · Nongshim (Global) · accessed
  2. Halal certified Korean food products on the rise · Halal Focus · accessed
  3. Going halal poses challenge to Korean firms · Korea JoongAng Daily · accessed
  4. Shin Ramyun Original · Nongshim USA · accessed
  5. Ramen rise: South Korea's Nongshim makes big strides in boosting expansion in Middle East, Europe and US · FoodNavigator · accessed